Improvement in wardrobe-bedsteads combined with other furniture



N. PETERS, PHoTo-UTHDGRAPHER. WASHINGTON, Q C- `UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY R. PLIMPTON AND JAMES LVPLIMPTON, OF WESTFIELD,

" MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT lN'vWARDROBE-BEDSTEADS COMBINED WITH OTHER FURNITURE.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. l4,5 14, dated March 25, 1856.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, HENRY R. PLIMPTON and JAMEs L. PLIMPTON, of Westfield, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachu setts,have invented certain newand useful Improvements in the Construction ot' Furniture, in which a bedstead is the only indispensable article of furniture embraced. The vother parts may be varied to meet different tastes and'circumstances. The secret-ary and -toilettable or Wash-stand form being the most convenient for general pu rposes, We have selected them to illustrate our invention; and We do hereby declare that the following is a-full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in Which- 5 Figure 1 is a front elevation of the whole when placed together in secretary form. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of it. Fig. is a vertical, central, and transverse section of the same as it appears folded and in an upright position. Fig. 4 is aside elevation of the secretary, with the toilet-table and mop-boards removed and the cornice turned over in front. Fig. 5 is a front elevation of positions of the rsecretary combined with the bedstead, the toilet-table or wash-stand being removed. Fig. 6 is a side view of the toilet-table or wash'stand. Fig. 7 is a cross-section of the same with the door turned down in front. Fig. 8 is a side View of a portion of the secretary and bedstead combined in an inclined position with the cornice turned over to form the foot-support to the bedstead. Fig. 9 is a front elevation of toilet-table or wash-stand. Fig. 10 is a vertical, central, and longitudinal section of the bedstead and portions of the secreta-ry combined when turned down and partly unfolded. Fig. l1 is a side elevation of the bedstead as it appears when turned down and prepared for being slept upon. Fig. 12 is a head elevation of it under the same circumstances. Fig. 13 is a foot View of the same under like circumstances. Fig. 14 is a footelevation of the bedstead and portions of the secretary when folded and ready to be turned upright. Figs. 15 and 16 are detailed viewsshowing the friction-springs V V on a larger scale.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each of the several figures.

The nature of our invention consists in constructing a bedstead with suitable parts attached thereto in such a manner that When not in use as a bedstead it may be folded and turned upright, and When in that position, by placing therewith a toilet-table or Washstand, or any other article of similar appearance, the Whole apparently will form a secretary, book-case, Wardrobe, cupboard, or any similar piece of furniture.

A A, Figs. 5, 10, and 12, represent posts, which are elevated upon and attached to the pieces B and C, 10, which are mounted on casters. The said pieces Band C are connected to each other by a hinge c and ascrew or boltf,as seen in Fig. 10, and bythis means the posts A A may be adjusted to or inclined from a perpendicular position as occasion may require. 1

g g, Figs. 4, 5, and 12, are pieces of Wood attached to the posts A A bythe iron hanger 7L 7i, as seen in Figs. 5, l2, and 14. To the said pieces g g are attached the mop-boards D D, Figs. 2, 5, 8, 12, and 14, and also the springs t' z', as seen in Figs. 4, 5, and 12. A pair of each of the above pieces are connected and supported at a vproper distance apart by the ties k k two of such ties 7c 7c being seen in Fig. 5 and one` in Fig. 12.

The posts A A have on their tops hinges or movable joints Z Z, Fig. 5, on which the Whole of the bedstead and portions of the secretary combined are hung, so as to turn freely from a vert-ical down to a longitudinal position.

' iLE, Figs. 6, 7, and 9, denotes the toilet-table or wash-stand, which is mounted on casters and Which when slid into the chamber in front of the secretary beneath the writingtable, as seen in Figs. l, 2, and v3, forms a front to the lower part to the secretary.

`F F, Figs. 1, 2, 3, 7, and 9, are drawers for containing stationary or Writing materials.

When drawn out a short distance they serve f as a support for the Writing-leaf G When the same is turned down and used for the prpose of writing, as seen in Fig. 2.

H H H, Figs. 1 and 5, are represent-ations of drawers, or what are termed false drawers, while I I, Figs. l and 5, are false doors.

J is the top or cornice part of the secretary, which is hinged to the secretary part of the bedstead, as seen in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 8,

and when the article is turned down to be slept upon, it (the part J) is made to take the position as seen in Figs. 10, 11, and 13, and to serve as a support for the foot end of the bedstead.

A board or panel K, Figs. 2, 4, S, 10, 1l, 12, and 13, is hinged to each side of t-he bedstead by hinges, as seen at a a, Figs. 1, 2, 4, 5, 11, 12, 13, 15, and 16. This panel when in position, as seen in Figs. 2 and 4, forms a part of each side of the secretary and serves to conceal the bed-clothes or bedding from View. Vhen the bedstead is declined to a horizontal position, these panels or boards K K are turned downward, as seen in Figs. 10, 1l, 12, and 13, they, when in such position, serving to hide from view .the writing table or desk and portions of the secretary and base.

L, Figs.3, 6,7,and 9,is a movable back, which is attached to the toilet-table by hinges, and which when the table is to be used can be turned up into the position seen in Figs. 6 and 9. Vv'hen in such position it may be held there by any suitable contrivance.

The front of the wash-stand or toilet-table is made with a door M M, which is hung on hinges, as seen at b in Figs. 3 and 7, so as to render it capable of being turned from the vertical down to the horizontal position, as seen in Figs. 3 and 7. f

The wash, toilet, and chamber articles are placed in the apartment N, Fig. 3, which the door M M serves to close.

O O, Figs. 3, 10, 11, l2, and 13, are head and foot boards, which are attached to the bed foundation or frame of the bedstead by hinges, as seen at c c, Fig. 11, so as to enable said head and foot boards to take the positions as seen in Figs. 3 and 10. A cord S,Fgs. lO and 12, is attached to the head-board, while the foot-board has a knob T, Fig. 13, affixed to it, to which the cord S is secured, aud serves with the head and foot boards to hold the bedding in place when in thepositions as seen in Figs. 3 and 10.

U, Figs. 3, 10, and 12, is a box attached to.

the bedstead foundation or frame, and made to contain sand or other proper weight for the purpose of counterbalancin g the bedstead and portions of the secretary1 combined upon the posts A A.

t' t', Figs. 4, 5, and 12, represent steel spring, which catch into the notches m m, Figs. 4, 10, and 1 2,in the bed-foundation,and hold the bedstead and portions of the secretary in an u pright position. These catches are disengaged bythe arrangement, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 4, consist-ing of a fiat piece of wood '11, hung on hinges at o and extending nearly the whole width of the bedstead. Near the center of this piece lengthwise is inserted a lever p, to which the key o is attached. At each end of the piece n is hung a rod of wood s,

extending downward to the springs it' at the bottom. The whole is so arranged that by pulling the key r the catches 't "i are both disengaged and the bedstead and portions of the secretary combined may be turned down.

t t, Figs. 1 and 2, are ornamental pieces of wood, hung at their top ends in such a manner as to allow their bottom ends to swing out sufficiently to prevent the writing-leat` from fallin gover when the secretaryis turned down, as seen in Fig. 10, and when turned upright these pieces swing back to place and offer no obstruction to the writing-leaf.

u u, Figs. 11 and 13, are catches attached to the part J, which catches latch into suitable notches made in the side panels K K and confine them to the portion J when the same are in the position as seen in Figs. 10, 11, 12, and 13. When the cornice or portion J is turned up, these catches uu drop back even with the sides of the cornice, as seen in Fig. 14, and remain in that position when turned upright, asin Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. The side panels K K when turned up to form the sido of the secretary are held in place by frictioncatches v fu. (Seen in Figs. 11 and 13, but more distinctly shown in an enlarged scale in Figs. 15 and 16.)

w w, Fig. 10, are spiral springs, which may or may not be employed to sustain the bedding.

The bedstead, toilet-table, writing-desk, &c., being placed together in secretary form, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2, it' we wish to change them to a bedstead, toilet-table, &c., the operation is as follows: The frontof the secre-t tary is pushed back at the top until the springs 'i t' catch at the bottom and hold the bedstead and portions of the secretary combined in an upright position. The toilettable or wash-stand is then to be drawn from beneath the writing-leaf and its back turned up and removed to some convenient place in the room. The remaining part (shown in Fig. 5) should be moved a sufficient distance from the sides of the room to allow the bedstead to be turned down and the side panels K K to be unfolded. The cornice J should then be turned over in front, as seen in Figs. 4 and 8. The catches it' are then disengaged by pulling the key r. The bedstead and portions of the secretary combined are then to be turned down until the cornice J strikes the door. Thisdone, the side panels K K are turned down' and latched'to the part J. The cord S, that contines the head and foot boards upon the bedding, is 'next to be removed from the knob T and the head and foot boards turned up to their places, as seen in Figs. 11, 12, and 13. The pillows being placed and the wash, toilet., and chamber articles being taken from the apartment N in t-he toilet-table and set in their respective places, the whole is ready for use.

Vhen desired to replace the parts again into secretary form, the operation is as follows: The wash, toilet, and chamber articles are all to be placed in the apartment N in the toilet-table. The bed is to be made up in the usual manner and the pillows laid :in Fig. l0.

' place.

upon the bed in a proper position to be held in place by the head and foot boards O O, which are next to be turned down and fastened upon the bedding by the cord S, as seen The catches which confine the parts K K to the portion J are next to be unlatch ed and the side panels K K turned up to The cornice or part J is then to be turned up, as seen in Fig. 14;. Then the bedstead and portions of the secretary combined are to be elevated to an upright position` as seen in Fig. 5. The toilet-table back L being turned down, as seen in Figs. 3 and 7, the toilet-table maybe run into place beneath the Writing-table, as represented in Figs. l, 2, and 3, that the Whole may be Iliade to present the appearance of a secret-ary, as seen in Figs. l and 2, and when the lea-f G is turned over and supported, as seen in Fig. 2, such leaf maybe used as a Writing table or desk.

Ve do not confine our invention to the particular forni' or forms of any one or more of the parts as herein set forth, as many variations may be made therefrom without deviating from the principal or main features of our invention. For instance, the portion J may be used only as a support for the foot of the bedstead, and the cap or cornice to the secretary may be made separate, so as to take off and form a top to the toilet-table^when placed thereon, or in some instances theA toilet-table may be Wholly dispensed with and some other article substituted in its place.

XVe do not claim as our invention any particular manner of constructing the base or vportiorls A B O, dac., upon which the bedstead and portions of the secretary combined are supported and made to turn. Neither do We-claim the spiralsprings for sustaining the bedding, or the pieces '11, or any of the catches or fastenings herein described. Neither do we claim sim ply the device of a bedstead made to turn up or fold up into the semblance of'a secretary, Wardrobe, or other like article of furniture, as that may be and has been done in Various ways without interfering with our invention; but

What we do claim as our invention, and Wish to secure by Letters Patent, is

Constructing a bedstead with suitable parts attached thereto in such a manner that when not in use as a bedstead it may be folded and turned upright, and when in that position by placing therewith a toilet-table or wash-stand or any other art-icle of similar appearance the whole apparently Will form a secretary, book-case, wardrobe, cupboard, or any other similar piece of furniture, as herein set forth.

In testimony whereof We have hereunto signed our names before two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY R. PLIMPTON. JAMES L. PLIMPTON. Witnesses:

ELISHA P. PARKS, WILLIAM A. REED. 

